ETAN

Etan sat, sagging in one of the chairs in the sitting room, next to the small table, elbows on his knees, and head in his hands. He wanted to weep. And he wanted to run the Queen through with his sword. He prayed for the strength not to take her by the throat at dinner that evening.

Borsche paced the floor in front of him, his footsteps clicking on the stone, then softened by the rug, then returning to the thud of the stone as he shook his head and muttered to himself, his entire body rigid with tension and anger.

"What the hell are you doing, Etan?" he hissed. "What are you even thinking? You made a vow before God—as did I! You took her and now you would just.. what? Abandon her? What happened to your marriage vows? What of your blood vow, for that matter?"

"I made a vow to protect her with my own life and that's exactly what I'm doing," Etan growled. "I had no choice. You understand that she didn't threaten me, she threatened Ayleth?!"

Borsche clawed a hand through his hair. "But to marry another, to commit adultery—"

Fire roared in Etan's chest. "I'm not going to marry Sarya, but I had to be seen to be fulfilling the Queen's obligations. She must believe that I am going through with this—which means everyone else must believe so as well. Someone knew, Borsche! Someone told her about us. We don't know who betrayed us, or how she came to know. We can't trust anyone except the four of us. That means that everyone—everyone—has to believe that what I'm doing is for real, so whoever is the spy, or whatever servant is watching, will also believe it."

"I told you, you became far too obvious—"

"This isn't the time." Etan raised his head and fixed Borsche with a glare. "There is nothing to be gained by looking back. We can only look forward. How am I going to free Ayleth from this curse? This spell? This.. bewitchment? She doesn't even know. Do I tell her? Do I break her heart twice, first with my own apparent betrayal, then knowing that her mother would kill her? I don't think I can. I'm not sure she's capable of keeping her knowledge of that from her mother—she'll be devastated." Etan rolled his head on his neck and sighed. "The woman is a spider, Borsche. She sees all the angles and lays traps for you within them. The only way safely forward has to be that everyone—including Ayleth—believes I've chosen my Kingdom over her. They have to believe it so that they will tell the Queen that. The woman is.. she will be able to tell if Ayleth holds hope. I'm certain of it. She's remarkable perceptive and cynical. Not easily fooled. We cannot take her lightly."

"Oh, I'm aware," Borsche replied. "However, even if you can convince the Queen, even if she believes your subterfuge, I would lay money on Ayleth not allowing it. She will fight for you, Etan, you know she will."

"Which is precisely why she must enter the Peace Accord, and the announcement of Unions, believing we are still going to announce ourselves to the world."

Borsche stopped pacing and stared at him, wide-eyed. "You would deceive your wife into being publicly shamed?"

"She won't be shamed!" Etan snapped. "No one else knows of our attachment. She will be shocked, but no others will even think twice. I have spent enough time with Sarya—"

"Etan, listen to yourself! This is your wife—vowed to you before God and consummated. You cannot simply walk away!"

"I AM NOT WALKING AWAY I AM SAVING HER LIFE!" Etan didn't know when he'd gotten to his feet, but suddenly they were toe-to-toe and Borsche eyed him with a warning. They were both breathing heavily.

Etan's hands were clenched at his side and he opened and closed them, forcing himself to speak quietly, through gritted teeth. "There is nothing in this world that pains me more. But I have no choice but to allow everyone to think that I leave Zenithra to marry another. It is the only way to keep Summitras—and Ayleth—safe and in the Accord while I figure out how to free Ayleth from this spell so that I can bring her home."

"And if her parents join her to another?"

Etan's entire body shuddered. "That is what I pray she will not allow," he breathed, squeezing his eyes closed to cover the emotion that welled in his chest whenever he imagined Ayleth in the arms of another man, kissing and being kissed, touching and—

He turned on his heel and stormed across the room, only to turn back a moment later. "I ache to speak with Quwan. If only he were here. You must know something of this sorcery, Borsche, you've always warned me against it. How do we break this kind of spell?"

Borsche shook his head. "This is much darker magik than I have ever faced," he said. "Quwan is definitely the advisor that you need. But even he.. I've never heard him speak of this, Etan. This is deep magik. Very dark."

Etan watched Borsche carefully. "Do you think she was lying?" He held his breath, hoping.

"I very much doubt it. I would not take the risk of calling her bluff."

Etan sighed. "No, that was how I felt, also. And so I have come full circle again. There is no choice but to allow Ayleth to believe this, to believe I take another. Then to find Quwan and get our answers before we return."historical

"Return? The Zenithrans will never allow you to return, Etan!"

Etan glared at him. "Which is precisely why we must plan for another abduction of the Princess—only this time, with her approval. You need to speak to Falek. He must keep her here, and safe, and.. and unhindered until I can return."

Borsche shook his head slowly. "None of this sits well, Etan. None of it."

"I know. Trust me.. I know."

******

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